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BLEEDING HEART DOVE
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Gallicolumba luzonica
HOUSE NAME: "Bill Elliott"
HABITAT: Endemic to the island of Luzon in the Phillipines
CONSERVATION STATUS: Near Threatened
FUN FACT: Bleeding heart doves are shy and secretive and rarely leave the ground except when nesting.
DIET: Seeds, fallen berries, insects, worms, and other invertebrates on the forest floor.
DESCRIPTION: The bleeding heart dove is easily recognized by a large, dark red patch of feathers on the breast that resembles an open wound. There are five species of bleeding heart doves, each with a red patch of a different size or intensity. The Luzon bleeding-heart has the most realistic “wound” of the group. Its back and wings are variable shades of gray with purple iridescence, while the throat, breast, and under-parts are white. There are several dark chestnut-brown bars on the wings. The beak is black, and the legs and feet are dull purple-red. Males and females look alike except for the eyes – males have a blue iris, and females have a purple or purple-gray iris. Juveniles are chocolate-brown, with buff bars on the wings and a very faint reddish patch on the breast. Bleeding heart doves are shaped like other doves, with small head, short tail, and short beak. Their legs are longer than those of most other doves. The body (beak to tail) is 10-12 inches long.
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